Multiple-fuse cut-out.



y G. ALMAS. MULTIPLE FUSE CUT-OUT.

, APPLICATION FILED 0OT.12I 1907.

' 966,783. Patented Aug.9,191o.

CHARLES ALMAS, 0F TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

MULTIPLE-FUSE CUT-OUT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

Application led October 12, 1907. Serial No. 397,107.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known thatl I, CHARLES Anims, of the city of Toronto, in the county of York and Province of Ontario, Canada, electrician, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in MultipleFuse Cut-Outs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in multiple fuse cut outs, more particularly of that class known as multi le fuse-plugs or cartridge fuses, and the ob]ects of my invention nre: firstly, to provide an electric device of the class described, or allied classes, which will carry currents of electricity of different volume or anlperage, and secondi to construct the device so that an electric current may be made to simultaneously pass through two or more fuses without. having to remove the device from its holder.

The invention broadly consists of the combination of elements hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings illustrating my invention, I have shown different forms in which same may be embodied, but it must be clearly understood that I do not confine myself to the construction illustrated, as my invention may be embodied in many diiferent forms without going outside the scope of the appended claims;

Figure l shows a vertical central section through a fuse-plug constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a bottom elevation of Fig. l. Fig. il: is a horizontalcross-scction on the line ifi- 13, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a bottom elevation of Fig. l with the contact-piece removed. Fig. 6 is n vertical central section through an alternative form of fuseplng constructed according to my invention. Fig. is a side elevation of the plug shown in Fig. 6 given a quarter turn. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line c-, F ig. 6. Fig. 9 is an alternative form of contact-piece used in connection with the form of plug shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is a vertical ccntrnl section through u. still further alternative form of my invention. Fig. 1l is a. longitndinal c'entrnl section through an ordinary cartridge plug or cartridge fuse showing my invention embodied therewith and F 12 is an end elevation of the switch end of the device shown in Fig. 11.

In the drawings, like characters of reference to Figs. 1 and 3.

nce indicate corresponding parts in each gure.

2 is a plug body or filament-carrier which may be of any suitable construction, and sume carries the fuses 3, which are passed through holes et formed in the plug body. The lower ends of the fuses are suitably secured to e suitable contact-piece: according to my preferred form of construction for this' purpose, the ends 6 of the fuses are bent downward against the bottom of the plug body and the contact-piece 5 suitably secured thereto as will.be seen upon refer- To confine the lower ends of the fuses so that in case one or more of the fuses should blow at this point, and to prevent the intact fuses from being destroyed, I count-ersink same in the lower end of the plug body by means of bedways 8, as will be seen on reference to Figs. 1 and 5. The upper ends 7 of the fuses 3 are preferably flared or broadened so that by this construction Suitable Contact. may be made therewith. Furthermore, this construction keeps said fuses in their respective holes. Although in the drawings I have shown six fuses, it will be understood that any convenient number may be used. In fuse-plugs or cartridge-plugs or uses novi7 on the man het, same aire not constructed whereby the device can carry currents of electricity of diierent volume or amperage. Ordinarily, the said devices only carry one fuse, and when same is destroyed, the device must be thrown away. In still other makes of fuseplugs, two or more fuses are used, but these fuse-plugs are not copa-ble of carrying curA rents of different volume or amperage.

By means of my invention, in case a fuse should be destroyed, one or more additional fuses may be utilized without. the necessity of having to discard the fuse-plug or cartridge fuse, and bv means controlled from the outside of the cvice. In my invention, I may use the fuses so that same will be siiunlt-.meously carrying their share of the current passing through the device. Al dif ferent timos, electricians find it is necessary lo substitute, say, a fifteen-ampere fuse-plug or rnrtricllre fuso for n leu-ampere fuse-plug or r;nrtrid;;e-fusc and in order to do this, they must remove the len-ampere fuse-plug nr cartridgmfusc, and substitute therefor a fifteen-ampere fuse-plug or cartridge-fuse. Now supposing the fuses in my fuse-plug nr cartridge fuse each carry live aniperes, 1t will be understood that in order to increase the current-capacit of the tuse-plug or cartridgc-fuse, it will le only :necessary to place two additional fuses in the circuit: Now Ain order to place one or more Jfuses in the eircuit, l ireferably employ the following means w 1ere my invention 1s embodied in the forms shown in Figs. 1 to 10: 9 is a plate supported a suitable distance above the top ot' the plug body 2 so as to provide the necessary snr-space, and suitably supported by said plug body According to the preferred form of construction shown for supporting this late from the plug-body, saine 1s provide with two downwardly-dependine,r ears 10, the power ends of which are preferably threaded so ns to screw around the plug body 2, which is provided with the usual thread or corrugations 11 is the usual contact shell which is secured to the ears 10, as will be understood. Where the ears pass through the head 12 of the plug-body, I prpvide suitable slots 13. Adjustably held in the plate V9, are screws 14 preferably provided with pointed ends 15. By ineens of any suitable tool, such as a screwdriver, the screws 14 are operated so as to come 1n con tact with the upper ends 7 of the fuses 3, thus throwing or placing said fuses in the circuit. By retracting said screws, it will be understood that the desired fuses will be ont ont of the circuit. Suitably held over the screws 14, and the plate 9, is a sheet of insulatingsniateral 16 preferably mica, which is provided with holes 17 in alinement with the screws 14, so that said screws may be manipulated. 19 is a thiznble which is suitably secured around the head 12: by means of the flange 1S of same, the insulatin materia-l 16 is held in position.

he screws 14 out of engagement with their respective fuses, will preferably be held so that their top will be flush, or substantially flush with the upper surface of the insulating material 16, thus indicating` at a glance what. fuses are carrying current.

The plate 9 is a good conductor', when same is made of soft brass, it will be understood that the thread on the screws 14 will more or less cut a thread in the holes in said plate through which said screws pass, thus 'obviating the necessity ot having to specially thread said holes.

1n Figs. 6 and 9, I show an alternative form of Contact piece. This contact piece 20 is provided with a series ot radiating arms 21 provided with widened ends 9'2. The arms 21 correspond in number and position to the holes in the plug body. The said arms are bent. at substantially right. angles to the bod portion of the rontaebpiece, as shown in ig. 6, und the fuses are secured thereto preferably by means of the sur lus metal in the widens ends 22 which is ent around said fuses, When all the fuses are attached to their respective arms, sume are inserted in the holes ll of thc plug body and the co1|taetpiece Q0 moved into place, thus passing: its arm 21 into the lower portion ot' the ho es 4: the upper ends 7 of the fuses are then broadened out as shown. In order to obviate the necessity ot' especially threading the holes in the plate 9, in Fig. 6 I show the pla-te quite thin. Riveted at 23 to the plate 9 is a thin plate 24 which normally occupies a concave-convex position. The thickness of the plate 24 is equal to or slightly less than the pitch of the thread on the screws 14, and so itwill be understood that it. will not be necessary to thread the holes in said plates where said screws pass through. W'hen the screws are placed in position in the alternative forni ot device shown in Fig. t3, they have a tendency to draw the plate 24; toward the plate 9, and as said plate is constructed troncato-convex, said plate will exert suliicientforce to keep said screws snugly in place. In the alternative formv of fuseplug shown in Fig. 6: I dispense with the contactshell 11 by extending the ears 10 of the plate 9 down substantially to the bottom ot the plugbody 2 and provide them with T-shaped ends 25 so as to give the necessary purchase around the plug-body- In order to permit ofthe placing of the Tfdiaped ends in place around the plug-body, the head 12 is cut away as shown at. 26.

In the alternative form of fuse-plug shown in Fig. 10, the plug-body is constructed hollow, and the fuses 3 passed therethrough and are secured, after the manner before described, in the plate or disk Q7 which closes the plug-body in this alternative form of fuse-plug. ln the end 28 ofthe plug-body;1 I form holes '29 through which ass the fuses 3. The plug-body shown in 1ig. l() is filled with an)v suitable insulating powder. In order to prevent this powder from comino out ot' the plug, the holes 29 are preferably plugged after the fuses have been passed therethrough, by means of any suitable material such as cement or plaster paris.

lt will of course be understood by one skilled in this art that. the current may pass through the fuse-plug through the medium of the contact-piece 5; one or more of the fuses 3; one or more of the screws 14; the plate 9, and, when used, the contact shell 11; or else it may follow a. ath the opposite ot that before described. urtherniore, it. will be understood that the plug-body 2 and plate 27 will be made of any suitable insulating material. such as porcelain. Although the plug-body has been shown provided with a thread, it will be understood that- I do not confine myself to so constructing same, as. where my invention is embodied in the form of a fuse-plug, the fuse-plug may beheld in any suitable fuse-plug socket by means of any suitable construction.

ltwill of course he understood by one skilled in this nrt that adevicc embodying my invention muy he providedl with fuses capable of carrying current of dlti'erent volumes; that is to say, sonne ot' the -fuses may curry tive-amperes und others ten or fifteenam eres or any suitable number of amperes.

y providing the holes in the head of the plug, 1t will be understood that the screws 14, or their equivalents, can be manipulated from the outside, and thus obviate the necessity of having to open the fuse-plug, or remove any part of same, for the purpose of cuttin the :fuses in or out.

In i s. 11 'and l2, I show my invention embodie in the form of a cartridgefuse or cartridge-plug. The body-portion or filament-carrier A. is made of any suitable insulating materia-l, such as red fiber, and is provided with the usual end cap C. The fuses D. are suitably held within the bodyportion; and, if desired, may be passed through the said cap C. and secured thereto or may be otherwlse secured to said cap. E. is a plug or plate of suitable insulating material, which closes the open-end of the device, and through which is passed the freeends of the fuses D. F. are a plurality of metallic pieces preferably U-shaped in cross sect-ion, which are eountersunk in the said plug E. and pinched in place; upon referring to Figs. 11 and 12, it will be seen that the free ends of the fuses D. are secured to the-outer ends of the metallic pieces F. B. is a metallic ring fitting around one end of the body-portion A., and through the same are screwed a plurality of screws I., which screw into the metallic pieces F. G. is the insulating powder witlnn the body-portion A. In these two figures, the cartridge plug is shown as held by the'spring clamps O. and P., secured to the base Q. T he operation of this form of my invention will be thoroughly understood Without further description. Itmust be clearly understood that when I use fuses or current-conducting means of different. strength in devices en'nbodying my invention, I do not necessarily use all of the fuses, nor any more than is necessary, to carry the desired current; therefore it. will be understood that only one fuse, or currentconducting means may be in use at any one time.

I do notconfine myself to the construction herein shown and described excepting in so far as that. may be necessary b v reason ot' the prior state of the art and the terms of my claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. As a new article of manuia'wture, a multiple-fuse cut-out. coun-)rising a filament carrier; a plurality of fusible filaments, the circuit for each of which is normally open,

and individual means for each ot' said [ilunients designed to he individually operated so that the circuit. may he iudii-'idually closed for each of the said liluments su that a plurality ol' the said filaments muy he used to siuudtaneously curry current so that the device may be made to carry current of different amperage.

2. As a new article of manufact-ure; u multiple-fuse eut-out comprising a iilament carrier made of any suitable insulating material; a, plurality of fusible filaments, the circuit for each of which is nornmlly o en, and individual means for each of said fi aments designed to be individually operated so that the circuit may be individ ually closed for each of the said filaments so that a. plurality of the said filaments muy be used to simultaneously carry current so that the device may be made to carry current of different amperage.

3. As a new article 0i manufacture, a'

multiple-fuse cut-out comprising a filament. carrier provided with a plurality of holes; a fusible filament held in each of said holes the circuit of each of which is normally open; acontact piece with which one end of each of the said fusible filaments makes coutact, and individual means for each of said filaments designed to be individually operated so that the circuit may be individually closed for each of the said filaments so that a plurality of the said filament-s may be used to simultaneously carry current. so that the device may be made to carry current of different amperage.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a multiple-fuse eut-out comprising; a ilament-carrier -provided with a plurality of holes; a fusible filament held in each of said holes; a contact piece common to said fusible filaments; a plate by means of which current may enter or leave the device, and a plurality of screws held in said plate and each designed to be individually operated and brought in contact with its respective fusible filament so that a plurality of said fusible fila-ments may be used to simultanc ously carry current so that the device may be readily made to carry currents of differentalnpcrage.

As a new article of manufacture, a multiple-fuse cutout comprising a tilament-carrier provided with a. plurality of holes; a fusible filament held in each of said holes; a contact piece common to said fusible filaments; a plate bymeans of which current muy enter or leave thc device, and a plurality of screws held in said pluto and each designed to be individually operated und brought in Contact with its respective fusible filamentl so that al plurality of said t'usible filaments may he used to simultaneously carry currentso that the devicel may be reutlily made to carr 1 currents of different. anl- Fertige, nudge-.sheet of insulating material ield ,ahovesuid .screws `und provided with holes.4 in. .alineihent therewith. i

ti. els. a new: article. ofrmanufacturc, a multiplcffuseicubout comprising a tlamentur rior provided with )lurality of holes' a fusible filament held 1n euch of said holes; n contact piece common to said fusible lilaments; a-plate; a contact shell embracing said filament-carrier and secured to ears de- .pendin '.froln. saidlate; a plurality of screws eld in suidp ate' andeach designed to be individually operated and brought in Contact with its respective fusible filament so that a plurality of said fusible filaments may be used to simult-aneously'carry current so that the device may be readily made to carry currents of different amperage, and a sheet of insulating material held above said screws and provided with holes in alinement therewith.

7. As a new article of manufacture, a multiple-fuse cut-out comprisin a filament-carrier rovided with a plura ity of holes; a fusib c filament held 1n each of said holes and each havin its lower end countersunk in the lower end ofsaid filament-carrier; a contact piece with .which one end .of said fusible :filaments makes contact, and means whereby a plurality of the said filaments may be used to simultaneously carry current so that the device may be readily made to carry currents of different ampara-ge.

8. As a new article of nianufacturei a multi le-fuse cut-out provided with a p uralit op fusible filaments; a contact piece with which one end of each of said fusible filaments makes contact, and means eo-acting with the unconnected ends of the said fusible filalnents whereby a plurality of the same may be used to simultaneously carry of diiierent current so that the device me made to curry currents of f peragc.

t 9. As a new article of manufacture-a mult1plciusc cut-out comprising a filament-carricr provided with a hole in its head; a plu rality of fusible-filaments held in said fila menbcarrier; a contact piece mmon to said fusible filaments, and means sup orted by said filamenbcarrier and desi edp to he operated from the outside throng the hole in the head thereof, and whereby a plurality of the fusible'filaments may be used to simultaneously carry current so that the de vlce may be readily made to curry currents amperage.

10. As a-new article er' manufacture, a mult1ple-fuse cut-out comprising a ilament carrier made of insulating material; a. plurality of fusible filaments the circuit of each of which is normally open; a sheet of insulating material held in the head of said filament-carrier and provided with holes, and individual means for each of said filaments situated underneath said sheet of insulating material' and in alinement with the holes therein and designed to be individually opera-ted so that the circuit may be individu ally closed for each of the said filaments so that a plurality of the said filaments may be used to simultaneously carry current so that thedevice may be made to carry current of different amperage.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES ALMAS.

be readily i'erent amlVitnesses EonR'roN R. (lass, FmunNou (l. Gouoon. 

